Once Rocky defeated Blackbeard, he felt his bloodlust not dying down at all as he could not calm down after that blood pumping fight that he just had.

As if turning into a demon possessed, he looked for the next strong opponent that he could face to possibly continue feeling this rush of beating death, however, as he started to look for the next opponent, the ship and his surroundings began to fade away into small granules of dust as if they were never real matter and were just an illusion from the start.

Soon, he returned to the fluffy feathery room where he once was, while the injuries that he suffered over his body during the fight against Blackbeard began healing rapidly as if they were fake too.

To him it felt like he had just cleared a game stage and he had been returned to the previous floor after the boss raid was over, However, this was the real world and not a game, which made the fight he experienced all the more bizarre.

“Was it all just an illusion?” Rocky asked the Griffin-Like creature who seemed to be the controller of the feathery room, as the Griffin smiled towards Rocky when he heard that question.

“Indeed. It was all an illusion. There’s no way I could have sent you back in time to fight a figure that’s long dead otherwise could I?” The creature said, as it flapped its wings and once again landed in front of Rocky, looking deep into his eyes.

“You did not beat this test via enlightenment…. This was supposed to be a test that was impossible to clear if you did not undergo sudden enlightenment, however, you beat it regardless.

That’s impressive…” The creature said, as it kept menacingly walking towards Rocky, forcing him to take a step back every time the creature took a step forward.

“I want to reward you with a perfect evaluation for thinking outside the Box and beating your opponent in a way that even I hadn’t thought would be possible. However, the goal of this test was to enrich your sword knowledge, which did not happen” The creature said, as it seemed to be facing a dilemma on how to judge Rocky for this promotion test.

“I will give you a perfect evaluation…. However, I will limit the options of your reward choices to only sword type moves” The creature said, after thinking for a while, as Rocky raised his eyebrow in confusion when he heard the word ‘Reward’.

“Reward?” Rocky questioned, looking surprised as the creature flapped its wings in response to Rocky’s question and from it fell five magic scrolls.

*THUD*

*Roll*

“For completing your second tier promotion test, I will bestow you with the choice of selecting Two Sword Paths amongst these Five Ancient Sword Paths.

Unlike the modern scrolls where the knowledge of the move will instantly be transferred to your brain upon glancing at them once, these scrolls will not automatically teach you the move it has recorded because the essence of these scrolls is not the single move but the sword path it captures.

You will have to practice the form and derive insights from the moves yourself to master them, however, if you can master them, then your sword path will be more pure and powerful than anyone under tier5″ The creature said, as it encouraged Rocky to see through the description of the scrolls and select two of the five.

Bowing down, Rocky picked up the scrolls one after another as he read through his choices.

1. [ Path of the Tempest Blade ] (Legendary Grade): – This path allows the wielder to harness the power of the wind, enabling swift and deadly strikes that are almost invisible to the naked eye. Mastering this path will grant the ability to create devastating wind slashes that can cut through the toughest of defenses.

(Notes) : Requires exceptional agility and reflexes. Perfect for those who prefer speed and precision in combat.

2. [ Path of the Grand Sage ] (Legendary Grade): – This path was once mastered by a legendary swordsman known as the Grand Sage.

It focuses on the integration of wisdom and swordsmanship, enabling the wielder to anticipate and counter any attack by controlling the rhythm of the battle and forcing the opponent to dance to one’s tunes.

It has four different forms, with the ultimate form, “Sage’s Judgment,” said to be unavoidable.

(Notes) : Requires deep understanding of the sword and patience. Suitable for those who value strategic combat.

3.[ Path of the Titan’s Fury ] (Legendary Grade): –

This path, left by the now extinct mythical warrior race, the ‘Titans’, emphasizes one’s raw power and endurance to its limits.

The practitioner of this sword path can deliver earth-shattering blows and withstand tremendous physical punishment as it’s great to temper one’s body.

It consists of Seven Forms, with the final form, “Titan’s Wrath,” capable of unleashing a devastating force that can topple giants.

(Notes) : Demands immense physical strength and resilience. Ideal for combatants with a robust physique.

4. [ Path of the Serpent’s Dance ] (Legendary Grade): – Inspired by the legendary assassin known as the Silent Serpent, this sword path focuses on agility, stealth, and precision.

It allows the wielder to strike swiftly and vanish without a trace.

The ultimate form of this path, the [ Serpent’s Fang ] delivers a fatal blow which can cause damage five times as powerful as one’s maximum hit.

(Notes) : Requires exceptional agility and stealth. Best suited for those who excel in subterfuge and dexterity.

5. [ Path of the Dragon Slayers ] (Legendary Grade) (Growth) : – This is an incomplete path created by an ancient school of warriors who called themselves the ‘Dragon Slayers’.

Initially created to slice through the tough hide’s of dragons, it’s an incomplete path and can be upgraded to a divine sword path if a master of the path undergoes enlightenment.

(Warnings): Mastery requires intense training and mental fortitude. The final form demands perfect control over one’s inner strength.

—

Rocky glanced at the scrolls, feeling the weight of each choice. Each scroll had its own advantages and disadvantages and Rocky wasn’t sure which one to pick.

However, as the creature watched him, awaiting his decision, Rocky knew he needed to make a choice fast.

———–

/// A/N – The choice made will be done through a popular vote, so please leave a comment down below as to which two pathways do you guys want Rocky to choose.

The most voted two choices shall win.

You have 24 hours to vote– ///

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep